Let's learn about "fire" in traditional Chinese medicine

In daily life, we often hear "Oh, I'm getting angry" and "Are you getting angry?" So what exactly is "fire"? Today, I will take you into the world of "fire" in traditional Chinese medicine.

Traditional Chinese medicine uses the Five Elements theory to explain the formation of all things in the world and their interrelationships, which are divided into "wood, fire, earth, metal, and water". Among them, "fire is said to be flaming up", which means that fire has the effect of warming and rising. "Getting angry" in traditional Chinese medicine is manifested as heat syndrome, which refers to the symptoms with warm and hot characteristics caused by the hyperactivity of body functions due to the influence of heat evil, or the hyperactivity of yang in the internal organs, or the deficiency of yin and the hyperactivity of yang.

The symptoms of heat caused by excess Yang are called real heat syndrome, and the symptoms of heat caused by deficiency Yin are called false heat syndrome. Therefore, when we get angry, we must first distinguish between "false and real", and then figure out which of the five internal organs is getting angry, so that we can quickly put out the fire, balance Yin and Yang, and prevent all diseases.

What are the manifestations of the fire of the five internal organs?

1. Heart Fire

Excessive heart fire refers to excessive heat inside the body, which feels like there is a fire in the heart, making the person uneasy. It can also manifest as: sores in the mouth and tongue, flushed face, insomnia, thirst, constipation. The heart and small intestine are the exterior and interior of each other, and when the heat evil moves down to the small intestine, short and dark urine, burning and painful urine, etc. may occur.

In severe cases, the heat can cause vomiting blood, mania, unconsciousness, etc. In addition, the tongue is red, the tongue coating is dry and dry with little fluid, and the pulse is rapid.

The virtual fire caused by deficiency of heart yin and internal disturbance of virtual heat are manifested as irritability, palpitations, insomnia, nightmares, dry mouth and throat, weight loss, hot hands and feet, hot flashes in the afternoon, night sweats, red cheeks, red tongue with little fluid, and thin and rapid pulse.

2. Liver Fire

Excessive liver fire is mostly caused by bad temper, adverse external stimulation, excessive consumption of spicy food, etc., and manifests as dizziness, headache, dry mouth, bitter taste in the mouth, pain in the chest and ribs, red and swollen eyes, excessive eye discharge, irritability, tinnitus, etc. Women may experience irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, etc. In addition, the tongue is red, the tongue coating is yellow, and the pulse is stringy.

The virtual fire caused by liver yin deficiency refers to the deficiency of liver yin fluid and internal heat caused by emotional frustration, qi stagnation turning into fire, or the late stage of febrile disease, which consumes liver yin, or insufficient kidney yin, and water cannot contain wood. It can be seen as dizziness, tinnitus, dry eyes, decreased vision, hot face or red cheeks, dry mouth and throat, heat in the five hearts (hot palms and soles of feet, and a sense of heat in the heart and chest), hot flashes (intermittent fever), night sweats (abnormal sweating after falling asleep, which stops after waking up), or dull burning pain in the ribs, or wriggling of hands and feet, etc. In addition, a red tongue with little fluid, a thin and rapid pulse, etc. can be seen.

3. Spleen Fire

Spleen fire generally refers to the fire of the spleen and stomach. The spleen and stomach are the exterior and interior of each other, and the spleen opens up to the lips. Visible symptoms include red lips, dry mouth, bad breath, sore throat, toothache, burning pain in the stomach, easy hunger, constipation, smelly stools, burning anus, etc.

Virtual fire caused by spleen yin deficiency can be seen as hot palms and soles, night sweats, dry eyes, dry mouth, bright red lips, thin and bright red tongue, thin or no tongue coating, loss of appetite, abdominal distension after eating, burning pain in the abdomen, dry retching, emaciation, constipation, etc. In addition, Chinese medicine calls eye bags "meat wheels", which correspond to the spleen and stomach. People with spleen yin deficiency have red eye bags, even purple, and darker color.

4. Lung Fire

People with excessive lung fire are prone to sore throat, cough, red eyes, hot nasal cavity, dry mouth and sore tongue, dry cough with little sputum, or coughing up yellow sputum, constipation, yellow urine, etc.

The virtual fire caused by lung yin deficiency can be seen as dry cough, little sputum, or cough with sticky sputum, night sweats, hot hands and feet, etc.

5. Kidney Fire

Kidney fire generally refers to virtual fire. Kidney yin is the root of the body's yin essence. If the kidney yin fluid is insufficient, yin cannot control yang, and virtual fire is generated endogenously, which may cause fever in the five hearts, night sweats, back pain, dizziness, tinnitus, etc.

I believe that everyone has a better understanding of "fire". As for how to put out a fire, we still have to rely on professional Chinese medicine doctors. Only by combining the four examinations can we better diagnose and help us put out the fire as soon as possible.